Handle reinforcement for boxes



Aug. 30, 1938. L. E. SWOPE 2,128,509

HANDLE REINFORCEMENT FOR BOXES Filed Sept. 1, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 30, 1938. E. SWOPE 2,128,509

HANDLE REINFORCEMENT FOR .BOXES Filed Sept. 1, 1937 2 SheetsSheet 2 Patented 30, 1938 PATENT OFFICE HANDLE REINFORCEMENT FOR BOXES Lytle E. Swope, Lakewood, Ohio, assignor to The I Ohio Boxboard Company, Rittman, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application September 1, 1937, Serial No. 162,015 6 Claims. (01. raga-52) This invention relates to a handle reinforcement'gfor boxesand similar containers, and it has particular reference to a reinforcing member adapted forjuxtapositi'on with respect to the part 5 orpart's forming'the handle ofthe box or other container, and serving not only as a means for strengthening and supporting such part or parts, but furnishing ameans for-engagement with the adjacentwallof the box-oreontainer to supple- 10 ment the handle proper' in supporting the weight 'of'the-box or container and its contents. I Inthe following; description, supplemented by the drawings, reference is made to this handle reinforcement iniits application, particularly, to a 16 box or container constructed from a folded blank having integral means iforf forming the handle, and'madeof cardboard; boxb'oard or similar paper product," and of suit case 'ors'uitfbox type, but it i-s'to understood thatthe' invfention is not thus limited in "appliatiomfbut is' susceptible of adaptation to the handles o'ffvarious types of boxes andcontainers J] j Considerable diificu'lty has'here'tofore been encounteredpreventing theitearingfaway of the handle of boxesmade of xboard, cardboard, and the like; p'articularl when the contents of suchboxes of c'ontainersarerelatiyely heavy, and oneof' the'objects or the present invention is to so reinforce the handles, presupposing, particula' rly, tl iatfsuch' ahdIes'areIjntegral with the materialof the b0 es 1dr containers,.that they will notflbreakortear, away'in the presence of appretmbl'el e te'nts'i'ri the boxes or containers e ,the-inventio is'to provide 7 x info enientjpfysirnpleconstruction an as ppfipauon iq 'l se ndiw a inbefore lintimated, ,will serve-notonly to strengthen thepart or, parts forming the handle, and usually madeinteg'ral with the box'or container, but will, so engagev theadjacent wallof the container; or box as to bear; an appreciable part of; the load: imposeduponythe handle.-

Thefinvention, ina broad aspect. contemplates a separate, or separable handle-reinforcing member adapted 'forjuxtaposition, and preferably registry, with the box-oncontainer handle, and having means for engagement,preferably-interlockingengagement, with the adjacent wallof the box or container, all: as will be explained hereinafter morefully rand-finallyclaimed."

.wIn the. accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, in the several figures 'df 'which' like 0 parts aresimilarlydesignated, Figure 1 is a plan s1 occasionedgbyg relatively heavy conview of'a box or container blank illustrative of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective viewof the. box or container set up in proper folded condition and closed.

Fig. 3 is a further enlarged perspective view of the handle-reinforcing member proper.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevation, also enlarged, illustrating the mode of application of the handle-reinforcing member,

and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse section of I the box or container taken through the handle and the handle-reinforcing member and showin same in assembled position. I

The container illustrated in the drawings as one type suitable for application'of the invention is a suit box having a carrying handle on its narrow top side, and thus providing a box or container-of suit case type.

The blank from which thiscontainer'is formed (Fig, 1) comprisesa sheet'of cardboard,fboxboard or other similar appropriate paper product, so cut and scored as to furnish the various, necessary parts of the bo'x or container. As shown, the 'blank' comprises side walls I and 2, a bottom wall 3, overlapping end wall members4, 4' and 5, 5' joined to' each other'respectivelyand to the bottom wall 3 by gusset pieces 6' of appropriate known construction, and overlapping top 'wall Ine'mbersll and 1. The end wall members 4 and 5 are provided with hook-like securing tabs 8 and 8" adapted for engagement with slits ii and II, respectively, formed in the top wall member 1', and the top wall member 'lis provided with hooklike securing tabs l0 and Hi adapted for engagement, respectively, with appropriate slits!) and 9 formed in the end wall members 4 and if. The top wall member 1 is provided also with biiurcatedshouldered securing tongues it of known 40 form for engagement with slits l3 formed in the side wall I.

The top wall member I is provided with an integral handle it andthe top wall member 7 is provided 'with a similar handle I4.

The side walls, bottom wall,- endwall members, gusset pieces, securing tabs, fastening tongues and handles are all appropriately foldable upon Figs. 3 and 4, may be made of the same material as that of which the'box'or containerisjformed,-

a suitable quantity with the blanks. Or, if desired, they may be attached to an appropriate part of the blanks by staples or the like H, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and it will be obvious that when thus furnished they will be detached from form. 1

the blanks beforethe folding of same to box Whenthe blank is appropriately folded upon the score lines l5, and its securing tabs 8, 8', I

l0, it) properly engaged with. their respective slits 9, 9', II, II, and the container closed, and its securing tongues I2 engaged inthe complemental slits IS, the container will have the ap-' pearance illustrated in Fig. 2. It will be understood, of course, that the handles l4 and M will have been bent along their respective score lines l5, as shown, so as to ofistand upwardly from the top wall portions 1 and 7', and the handle reinforcement interposed between them and engaged with adjacent portions of the top wall ina manher to be explained hereinafter in more detail.

The handle reinforcement, best illustrated in or it may,- preferably, be niade of somewhat heavier,- stifier-stock. rIt comprises, essentially,

a flat member preferably shaped, inso far as its parts exposed when in use are concerned, as a duplicate of, and capable of registry with, the handles Hand M. In the form shown, it'is provided with an appropriatehandhole, and includes shoulders i8 terminating in slanted 'camming edges l9 and having underlying notches 20 the lower faces of'which merge into. extensions 2|. w. t 4

It will be noted that when'the box, or container'is set up as illustrated in Fig. 2, the top wall members i and I are inoverlappingrelastrong top wall for the" container, theweakness 'tionto' form a double wall except at those fporjtions 'from which the handles l4 and M are out and bent up. Although this'provides a relatively with the adjacent edge portions of the top wall members will serve to .hold these members in contact and thereby strengthen, at these points, the connection of the handles l4 and M with their respective top wall members I and I, at the sametime holding thereiniforcing member [6 in registry with the handles, and'preventing lar integral juxtaposed handles, ,a handle-reinit from dropping out of place andinto the container.

It will be noted that the upper edges 22 of the extensions 2| are slightly bowed. This has a tendency to cramp the adjacent engaged portions of the top wall into the notches-2fl, thereby providing a "more eflicient grip between these Parts. l

Various changes are contemplated as within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims. Y

1. In a container providedwitha pair of similar juxtaposed handles, :a; handle-reinforcing member adapted for interposition between said handles 'and'provided with attaching and positioning means 'for engagement with awall of saidbontainer, I I l V 2. In a container provided with .a-pair of simiforcing member shaped for substantially registering interposition between said handles and provided with attaching and positioning means for interlockingengagement witha walliof said I container. I

3. In a container having a pairof overlapping wall members, handles carried by said wall mem-- bers and ofistanding therefromjn appropriately registering juxtaposition, andca handle-reinforcing 'member' interposed between said handles and I provided with means for, engagementfwith said "wall members adjacent tovsaid handles. v,

4. In a container havinga pairtof overlappin 1, wall members, handles carriedbysaid wall members and offstanding'jth'erefrom in, appropriately 3of theihandles Itand l4",andtheir'tendency'to tearb'ackintothe top-wall members] and 1', upon "the imposition ,of any appreciable load '1 within thecontainer will bejapparent. Applicaftio'nf of the "handle reinforcement with. its attendant ,reinforcing and load-supporting. junctions will eliminate this tendency. .I'he handlereihforcing member is appliedasiiolldwsz With .thebox or container setup and closedjas described; and its handles and Hjinjoflstandlng juxtaposition, the handlereinforcing. member ,I 6

. "is inte'rposed bi weenIthem vandflowered, I endwise 'Ifor exam'Dldisb. that it. may enter thelc'ontainer and .thereaft'er'be broughtfto [approximately the position'illustrated in Fig.,4.. ,'rhen y pullingit II l l wmf 1 w ii 1 th I fi i l 1, 4 i i 1 "7 r it shoulders 18 and inclined camming' edges 19. will pi fi he u de e 1. th m wel nit-the eonmmemhe edge so distort theadjacent edge portionsof thefltop' iime besti qijca i ma g "m a nes "'IB .andedges la to, passl p wardiy through-the I 5. In a folded blank ethane 1 portions of said blank providin registering juxtaposition, n a handle-rein forcing member in registering, interposition between said handles and'pro'vided. with means for interlocking engagement with j adjacent portions of said wall' members.

f's uit'case type, side walls, end

walls, a bottom 'wall,"and an "bersg each of said top wallln fembers formed to -wall members'lyin'g' in overlapping said-container is closed and brinjgi furnish an offstan'ding fintegrallhandle, said top 'lation when in substantiall registering juxtap tidpf, and a.

portions 'of said blank providin d wallspend a wi m :handle-re'inforcingmember interp ed jbetween sma-hand es-and{provided positioning meansfforcoopera o wm a 6."'iIn a folded blank-container f cwallspa bottom-wall; andfa pail-onto wan mem- 1 hers; eachwf said top :wall members iorined to furnish an: ofistanding' integral lhandle',f= s'aid top -wall members. lying in overlappingfrelation when said container is a closed and b g" said "hanand a; handle-reinforcing menibr interposed between said handlesi and :..proilidd witl:i attaching .and positioning. means} 1 for; interlocking =engagern ent with adjacent portions: on both members- 11" ,gdlesqdnr substantially .ire'giste'ring juxtaposition, 

